Tucker M.

When Tucker’s mom was 37 weeks into her pregnancy she was sent to a specialist who discovered a problem with her unborn baby’s heart. He was diagnosed with DiGeorge Syndrome, a genetic disorder that affects his heart, immune system, and development. He also has Truncus Arteriosis, a rare defect of the heart in which a single common blood vessel comes out of the heart, instead of the usual two vessels (the main pulmonary artery and aorta). His parents were told Tucker would need surgery soon after he was born.

Tucker was 5 lbs, 4 oz. when he arrived at 39 weeks. He was immediately taken to the NICU for 7 days to prepare him for heart surgery. He received a donor valve that he will eventually outgrow.

Tucker was in the hospital for 28 days after the surgery. Just before he was supposed to be released from the hospital they discovered a small blood clot in the large veins in his chest. He was put on a blood thinner and had to stay on those for the first 3 months of his life.

Because Tucker never learned to nurse or drink from a bottle, he ​gets his nutrition through an NG tube. He’s small for his age, at 6 months old he wears 3-month-old clothing, but he’s growing and getting stronger every day. He sees a cardiologist every other month to make sure his heart is growing and working properly.

Tucker recently had a cardiac cath procedure, where doctors put a stent in the conduit in his heart. This made it a little bigger for now, giving him more time to grow before his next open-heart surgery.

In spite of so many challenges from the very beginning, Tucker is a happy little baby who brings so much joy to his family and friends.

Sparrow Cash raised for Tucker will help with ongoing medical expenses, and everyday living expenses. Students at Metolius Elementary School will “earn” Sparrow Cash by completing a minimum of 256 hours of sponsored community service.